WO2016151073A1 - Vésicules formées à partir de copolymères séquencés et nouveaux copolymères séquencés - Google Patents

Vésicules formées à partir de copolymères séquencés et nouveaux copolymères séquencés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016151073A1
WO2016151073A1 PCT/EP2016/056504 EP2016056504W WO2016151073A1 WO 2016151073 A1 WO2016151073 A1 WO 2016151073A1 EP 2016056504 W EP2016056504 W EP 2016056504W WO 2016151073 A1 WO2016151073 A1 WO 2016151073A1
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Prior art keywords
vesicles
block
groups
reactive
end groups
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PCT/EP2016/056504
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English (en)
Inventor
Mariusz Piotr GRZELAKOWSKI
Manish Kumar
Ian SINES
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Applied Biomimetic A/S
The Penn State Research Foundation
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Application filed by Applied Biomimetic A/S, The Penn State Research Foundation filed Critical Applied Biomimetic A/S
Priority to EP16712824.8A priority Critical patent/EP3274396B1/fr
Priority to US15/560,961 priority patent/US10865278B2/en
Priority to CN201680030369.4A priority patent/CN107667133B/zh
Priority to DK16712824.8T priority patent/DK3274396T3/da
Priority to JP2017549645A priority patent/JP6882183B2/ja
Priority to CA2980641A priority patent/CA2980641C/fr
Priority to KR1020177030659A priority patent/KR102650153B1/ko
Publication of WO2016151073A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016151073A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
    • C08G73/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing nitrogen with or without oxygen or carbon in the main chain of the macromolecule, not provided for in groups C08G12/00 - C08G71/00
    • C08G73/02—Polyamines
    • C08G73/0233—Polyamines derived from (poly)oxazolines, (poly)oxazines or having pendant acyl groups
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/30—Macromolecular organic or inorganic compounds, e.g. inorganic polyphosphates
    • A61K47/34—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyesters, polyamino acids, polysiloxanes, polyphosphazines, copolymers of polyalkylene glycol or poloxamers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/30—Macromolecular organic or inorganic compounds, e.g. inorganic polyphosphates
    • A61K47/42—Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof; Derivatives thereof, e.g. albumin, gelatin or zein
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
    • A61K8/02—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K8/14—Liposomes; Vesicles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
    • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
    • A61K8/30—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds
    • A61K8/64—Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
    • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
    • A61K8/72—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic macromolecular compounds
    • A61K8/90—Block copolymers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
    • A61K9/127—Liposomes
    • A61K9/1271—Non-conventional liposomes, e.g. PEGylated liposomes, liposomes coated with polymers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
    • A61K9/127—Liposomes
    • A61K9/1277—Processes for preparing; Proliposomes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D69/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D69/12—Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
    • B01D69/125—In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B01D71/24—Rubbers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B01D71/56—Polyamides, e.g. polyester-amides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B01D71/76—Macromolecular material not specifically provided for in a single one of groups B01D71/08 - B01D71/74
    • B01D71/80—Block polymers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B01D71/76—Macromolecular material not specifically provided for in a single one of groups B01D71/08 - B01D71/74
    • B01D71/82—Macromolecular material not specifically provided for in a single one of groups B01D71/08 - B01D71/74 characterised by the presence of specified groups, e.g. introduced by chemical after-treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/44—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
    • C08G81/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by interreacting polymers in the absence of monomers, e.g. block polymers
    • C08G81/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained by interreacting polymers in the absence of monomers, e.g. block polymers at least one of the polymers being obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • C08G81/024—Block or graft polymers containing sequences of polymers of C08C or C08F and of polymers of C08G
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L87/00—Compositions of unspecified macromolecular compounds, obtained otherwise than by polymerisation reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
    • C08L87/005—Block or graft polymers not provided for in groups C08L1/00 - C08L85/04

Definitions

  • This invention relates to vesicles formed from block copolymers, specifically, from block copolymers of butadiene and 2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline.
  • the invention also relates to membranes formed from such vesicles.
  • Most polybutadiene/(poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block copolymers are novel, and these novel block copolymers also form part of the invention. Background of the invention
  • Vesicles and cells in nature are nano-containers built by amphiphilic lipids and supported by cholesterol.
  • Amphiphilic block copolymers have been studied as a synthetic alternative for use in the production of artificial vesicles, but the number of block copolymers studied has been very small, focussed mainly on copolymers of (poly)2-methyl-2-oxazoline
  • WO 00/37541 relates to novel amphiphilic block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment, while US 6,916,488 discloses vesicles made from amphiphilic copolymers.
  • the vesicles of US 6,916,488 may be used for drug delivery or as nanoreactors, and may have membrane proteins incorporated into their walls; the copolymers can be AB or ABA block copolymers where one of A and B is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic.
  • US 6,916,488 mention a wide range of possible candidates for A and B, but the only polymer exemplified is poly(2- methyloxazoline)-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-poly(2-methyloxazoline) (PMOXA-PDMS- PMOXA).
  • US 6,723,814 relates to planar membranes formed from amphiphilic copolymers.
  • US 2008/0305149 discloses the use of block copolymer vesicles having mucoadhesive groups, for mucosal delivery of drugs.
  • WO 2004/01 1600 discloses that aquaporins may be incorporated into tri-block copolymers to form a membrane which will only pass water, excluding all contaminants. Since this disclosure, much work has been carried out to develop membranes incorporating
  • WO 2013/0431 18 discloses the use of vesicles, either containing or not containing aquaporins, embedded in a polyamide layer on a support membrane.
  • the copolymer may be PMOXA-PDMS-PMOXA or a number of other copolymers, i.e. EO-PO, EO-Bd, EO-PDMS and EO-BO, where EO is ethylene oxide, PO is propylene oxide, Bd is butadiene, and BO is butylene oxide.
  • Amphiphilic copolymers of polyethylene glycol and butadiene are well known, see for example M.A. Hillmyer and F.S. Bates, "Synthesis and Characterization of Model
  • ethylene oxide is gaseous which makes it difficult to handle, especially when using larger quantities, as it is a flammable, highly toxic and highly regulated compound. Further, it is not easy to functionalise or to cross-link ethylene oxide.
  • block copolymers comprising at least one (poly)2-Ci_3alkyl-2- oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block, and particularly such copolymers having specific end groups, have major advantages when used for vesicle formation and in membranes. Specifically, the block copolymers form vesicles very readily; it is easy to tailor the size of the vesicles; it is easy to stabilise the vesicles; and the polymers can be readily functionalised to perform a range of reactions.
  • the permeability of the block copolymers is inherently low, and can be adjusted to be very low, which makes the polymers valuable for a number of applications, including use in vesicles for delivery of substances including for example drugs and cosmetics, and for use in membranes.
  • the invention provides vesicles formed from a block copolymer comprising at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block. Also provided are vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, and filtration membranes comprising such protein-containing vesicles. Most block copolymers comprising at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block are novel, and the invention further provides these novel polymers per se.
  • the present invention provides a block copolymer comprising at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block, provided that the copolymer is not the diblock copolymer consisting of 40 butadiene units and 190 2-methyl-2-oxazoline units terminated by a hydroxy group, i.e. is not diblock hydroxy-terminated PB 4 o-£-PMOXAi9o.
  • the block copolymer used in the present invention comprises at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2- oxazoline (PAOXA) block and at least one polybutadiene (PB) block.
  • the polymer is suitably a diblock copolymer AB or especially BA, or a triblock copolymer ABA, in which PAOXA forms the A block(s) and PB forms the B block.
  • Block copolymers which comprise at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline (PAOXA) block and at least one polybutadiene (PB) block have a number of properties which make them particularly suitable for use in the formation of vesicles.
  • PAOXA poly2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline
  • PB polybutadiene
  • copolymers according to the invention contain less than 190 2-alkyl-2-oxazoline units in the PAOXA block.
  • the specific hydroxy-terminated PB 4 o-3 ⁇ 4- PMOXA190 polymer disclosed in the dissertation by Hordyjewicz-Baran referred to above is highly hydrophilic, containing a large preponderance of hydrophilic MOXA units compared with hydrophobic butadiene units.
  • copolymers containing a greater proportion of hydrophobic butadiene units for example copolymers in which the number of butadiene units in the PB block is at least half the number of 2-alkyl-2-oxazoline units in the PAOXA block, for example copolymers in which the number of butadiene units in the PB block is at least equal to the number of 2-alkyl-2- oxazoline units in the PAOXA block, especially copolymers in which the number of butadiene units in the PB block is greater than twice the number of 2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline units in the PAOXA block.
  • the ratio of the number of butadiene units in the PB block to the number of 2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline units in the PAOXA block may be greater than 1 : 1.75, which is equivalent to a hydrophilic to lipophilic ratio of 17.64.
  • the copolymer of the invention preferably contains at least 5, for example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15 butadiene units, for example up to 200, especially up to 160, and most especially up to 120, butadiene units; and at least 5, for example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15 2-Ci_3alkyl-2-oxazoline units, for example up to 189, especially up to 180, for example up to 160, and most especially up to 120, 2- Ci_3alkyl-2-oxazoline units.
  • the invention provides a copolymer which comprises at least one PAOXA block and at least one PB block, provided that the polymer has end groups which are other than -OH, particularly, provided that the polymer has at least one end group at the end of a (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block which is other than -OH; and/or in which the copolymer is a triblock copolymer; and/or in which the PAOXA block is less than 190; and/or in which the ratio of the number of butadiene units to the number of 2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline units is greater than 4: 19; and/or the Ci-3alkyl group in the PAOXA block is C 2 _3alkyl.
  • the Ci-3alkyl group in the (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block may be methyl, ethyl or propyl or a mixture thereof.
  • the or each (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block is a (poly)2-methyl-2-oxazoline block.
  • any mention of Ci-3alkyl should be understood to include a specific mention of methyl.
  • the Dissertation by Hordyjewicz-Baran referred to above discloses one specific method of preparing block copolymers.
  • Synthesis of block copolymers by polymerisation is well known, and the length of the one or more segments which are to be copolymerized on the starting segment can be easily controlled by controlling the amount of monomer which is added for the copolymerization, and/or by the addition of suitable chain-terminating capping agents. In this way the size of the segments and their ratio can easily be controlled.
  • the length of the blocks in polymers intended for this application is preferably such that the thickness of the vesicle wall is broadly comparable with the length of the transmembrane protein so that the protein can be readily incorporated into the vesicle walls without the channel becoming blocked.
  • the thickness of the vesicle wall may be in the range of from 1 nm to 50 nm.
  • the length of the hydrophobic polybutadiene block is particularly important, and this should preferably be no greater than 200 repeat units.
  • the two end groups on a polymer chain may be the same as each other, or different.
  • the end group of that block will generally, following synthesis, contain a group which depends on the initiator used for the PB polymerisation. For example, if an alkyl lithium initiator R-Li is used, it will contain an alkyl group R.
  • the initiator may for example be sec-butyl lithium, in which case the end group will be a sec-butyl group.
  • the PAOXA block of the block copolymer contains end groups which are other than an -OH group.
  • suitable end-groups may promote vesicle formation, or may provide functionality for onward reaction of the polymer.
  • preferred end groups include carboxyl groups and activated carboxyl groups; amine groups; methacrylate groups; thiol groups; azide groups; and alkyne groups.
  • the block copolymer contains at least one carboxyl end group at the end of the PAOXA block.
  • the block copolymer contains an end group at the end of the PAOXA group which includes an -NH 2 group.
  • end groups which contain both an -NH 2 and an -NH- group i.e. the end group includes both a primary and a secondary amine group.
  • Required end groups may be present following initial synthesis of the copolymer, or may be introduced following the copolymer synthesis. If not present following initial synthesis, it is possible to introduce an appropriate end group by suitable reactions at the end of the relevant block.
  • the polymerization of the growing segment may be terminated after a suitable chain length is reached and the initiator group present at the chain end capped. For example, capping using water will result in an -OH end group, while capping with an appropriate amine will lead to an amine end group.
  • capping may be carried out using any other desired terminator, and the required end group may be introduced using known chemistry. For example, termination may be carried out using KOH/MeOH or unsaturated groups at the end of the growing segment.
  • the block copolymer is terminated by at least one end group X having the formula -NHR in which R represents an alkyl group which may be straight-chain or branched having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by at least one, for example 1, 2 or 3, -NH 2 groups.
  • R represents an alkyl group which may be straight-chain or branched having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by at least one, for example 1, 2 or 3, -NH 2 groups.
  • an end group X has the formula -NH-CH-(NH 2 ) 2 or, preferably, -NH-(CH 2 ) n -NH 2 , in which n is an integer from 2 to 6, preferably 2 to 4, especially 2.
  • Such end groups may be introduced by reacting a polymer having -OH end groups with a suitable reactive amine NH 2 R, for example a diamine, for example H 2 N-(CH 2 ) n -NH 2 , especially H 2 N-(CH 2 ) 2 -NH 2 , or triamine, for example
  • a suitable reactive amine NH 2 R for example a diamine, for example H 2 N-(CH 2 ) n -NH 2 , especially H 2 N-(CH 2 ) 2 -NH 2 , or triamine, for example
  • Branched oligomeric imines may also be used.
  • the growing polymer chain can be capped using an appropriate amine.
  • Block copolymers comprising at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block have been found to be particularly suitable for the formation of vesicles, and the present invention provides vesicles formed from such copolymers.
  • the vesicles of the invention may be prepared from the block copolymers by methods well known in the art. Generally, these methods involve either solvent displacement or solvent-free rehydration. In solvent displacement methods, the block copolymer is dissolved in an organic solvent before mixing with water. After mixing, and optionally removing the organic solvent, spontaneous self-assembly of vesicles results. In solvent-free rehydration, dry block copolymer is brought into contact with an aqueous medium whereupon hydration results in the spontaneous self-assembly of vesicles.
  • solvent displacement methods the block copolymer is dissolved in an organic solvent before mixing with water. After mixing, and optionally removing the organic solvent, spontaneous self-assembly of vesicles results.
  • solvent-free rehydration dry block copolymer is brought into contact with an aqueous medium whereupon hydration results in the spontaneous self-assembly of vesicles.
  • the thin-film rehydration process block copolymer is dissolved in an organic solvent which is then removed under conditions such that a thin film is formed. This film is then hydrated by contacting with water, and vesicles are formed by self-assembly.
  • An alternative known method of vesicle preparation involves the use of sonication, the degree of sonication determining the initial size of the vesicles formed.
  • the block copolymers of the present invention often tend initially to form relative large vesicles (which may be described as "Giant Unilamellar Vesiclses", GUVs). GUV's generally have diameters of from about 1 to 20 microns.
  • Vesicles having a desired size and low polydispersity can be obtained from the initially formed population of vesicles by known methods, for example by extrusion of large uni- and multi- lamellar polydisperse vesicles through one or more membranes of known pore size.
  • Track etched polycarbonate membranes for example Isopore (Trade Mark) membranes available from Millipore, are suitable for this purpose. It has been found that it is easier to tailor the size of vesicles made from the copolymers of the present invention than it is when making vesicles from known copolymers. Specifically, it is easier to make GUVs using the copolymers of the present invention than when using known copolymers.
  • the optimal size of the vesicles prepared and used in the present invention will depend on their intended application.
  • the vesicles may have an average diameter in the range of from 30 to 10,000, preferably 50 to 1000, more preferably 100 to 400, especially from 150 to 250, nm.
  • the propensity of block copolymers to form vesicles, rather than other self-assembly structures such as micelles, depends on the absolute and relative sizes of the blocks; this is known in the art. It also depends on the nature of the polymer end-groups, and this is not known in the art.
  • vesicles when the polymer is terminated with -OH groups, and when the blocks are relatively high molecular weight, micelles tend to be formed, which means that lower molecular weight polymers are preferred if vesicles are required.
  • an end group which is a carboxyl or an amine group, particularly an amine group including both an -NH 2 and an -NH- group, facilitates the formation of vesicles.
  • vesicles according to the invention may be internally cross-linked via the double bonds in the PB block. This can be done using methods analogous to known methods, for example using an initiator or using UV light.
  • vesicle stability can also be increased by cross-linking polymer chains using suitable functional end-groups. It has also been found that cross- linking via the double bonds in the PB block decreases the permeability of vesicles formed from the copolymer, and thus cross-linking provides an easy method of controlling and tailoring the permeability of vesicles.
  • One preferred embodiment of the invention provides vesicles formed from a block copolymer comprising at least one (poly)2-Ci-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block, said vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated into their walls.
  • Such vesicles may be formed by carrying out the vesicle formation process in the presence of transmembrane proteins, especially aquaporins, whereby the transmembrane protein becomes incorporated into the wall of the vesicle.
  • the process for forming such vesicles is carried out in the presence of a detergent which assists in maintaining the integrity and biological function of the protein.
  • transmembrane protein preferably also including a detergent.
  • a transmembrane protein preferably also including a detergent.
  • aquaporins is preferred, and aquaporins are robust under a wide range of process conditions. Further details of transmembrane proteins are given in the section
  • Vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein have utility in the formation of membranes. This is discussed in the section "Membranes" below. As well as having utility in the formation of membranes, vesicles can be used in other applications. A further use for vesicles according to the invention is in the delivery of substances, for example drugs or cosmetics, and the block copolymers of the invention are particularly suitable for this use because they lead to vesicles with high encapsulation efficiency.
  • vesicles formed from the copolymers of the present invention have a greater resistance to detergents than vesicles formed from known copolymers, which tend to lose their structure on contact with detergents, making the present invention particularly suitable for delivery of cosmetic agents comprising detergent-like molecules.
  • a wide variety of substances can be contained in the cavity of the vesicles defined by the wall of the vesicle by a number of different routes, for example by adding the substance to the block copolymer during its preparation, by introducing the substance to the block copolymer during vesicle formation, or by treating the vesicles with a solution of the substance until the substance has been absorbed into the vesicles.
  • drugs drugs, cosmetic agents, fragrances, dyes, pigments, photoactive compounds, metal particles, nanoparticles, biological polymers, biological organelles, cell organelles, and chemical reagents.
  • vesicles in the field of drug or cosmetic delivery, and the invention further provides a vesicle according to the invention containing a drug or a cosmetic agent, specifically containing a drug or a cosmetic agent within the cavity defined by the vesicle wall.
  • suitable drugs include small molecule drugs, toxins, cytoxic drugs, genes or R A, and proteins, for example therapeutic proteins or enzymes.
  • the vesicles according to the invention may be made from copolymers with terminal functional groups, the vesicles may be covalently bonded via these terminal groups to a targeting molecule, for example a binding protein capable of binding to a binding partner on a target, for example an antibody or an antibody fragment.
  • a targeting molecule for example a binding protein capable of binding to a binding partner on a target, for example an antibody or an antibody fragment.
  • the present invention has utility in the field of targeted drug delivery.
  • the present invention further provides a filtration membrane which comprises a plurality of vesicles according to the present invention having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein.
  • a filtration membrane which comprises a porous support and, covalently bonded to a surface thereof, a layer comprising a plurality of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer; characterised in that within said layer, vesicles are covalently linked together to form a coherent mass.
  • the support carries a layer of vesicles in which multiple vesicles are close packed together.
  • the packing in the layer may for example be hexagonal close packing.
  • the layer of vesicles present on the support surface is thicker than the average diameter of the vesicles, i.e. it is of greater thickness than would be provided by a single layer of vesicles. It is preferred that the layer should have a thickness equivalent to at least 2, for example at least 10, preferably at least 50, more preferably at least 150, and most preferably at least 200, times the average diameter of vesicles.
  • the layer is not more than 500 times, for example not more than 300 times, the average diameter of a vesicle.
  • the layer may have a thickness of from 2 to 500, for example from 50 to 300, especially from 200 to 300 times the average diameter of the vesicles.
  • the thickness of the vesicle layer is preferably at least 0.04, for example at least 0.1, for example at least 0.2, for example at least 2, preferably at least 10, more preferably at least 30, and most preferably at least 40, microns.
  • the layer may for example have a thickness up to 100, for example up to 60, microns. So, for example, the layer may have a thickness of from 0.04 to 100, for example from 0.2 to 100, preferably from 10 to 60, especially from 40 to 60, microns.
  • the layer of vesicles in the finished membrane is preferably provided with a protective top coating layer, or a second support layer on the opposite side from the support layer.
  • This top coating may for example provide added protection from mechanical damage during a rolling process. It may for example comprise a hydrophilic polymer, for example polyvinylalcohol.
  • a filtration membrane of the structure described in our copending application may be prepared by a process which comprises providing an aqueous suspension of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from a block copolymer according to the present invention; depositing said suspension of vesicles on a surface of a porous support; and providing reaction conditions such that covalent bonds are formed between different vesicles and between vesicles and said surface.
  • the filtration membrane is a water filtration membrane, and preferably the transmembrane protein is an aquaporin.
  • any reference to a filtration membrane should be understood to include a specific reference to a water filtration membrane, and any reference to a
  • transmembrane protein should be understood to include a specific reference to an aquaporin.
  • the process for membrane preparation may be carried out in a number of different ways. In a first preferred embodiment, the process comprises:
  • transmembrane proteins incorporated therein said vesicles being formed from block copolymers having reactive end groups X;
  • the process comprises:
  • end groups X with end groups Y, and either end groups X or end groups Y with the surface of the support.
  • the above processes result in a physically robust layer of polymer vesicles according to the invention linked to each other, optionally via a linker, and also linked to the surface of the support.
  • One or both of the block copolymer end groups may be one of the end groups mentioned above.
  • one or both of the end groups are groups X which include both an -NH 2 and an -NH- group. It is not necessary that all the block copolymer molecules used in the membrane fabrication process should have reactive end groups.
  • the proportion of block copolymer molecules having reactive end groups is not critical, provided that there are sufficient groups to react with reactive groups either in a second population of vesicles or in a multifunctional linker, to form a coherent mass. Generally, at least 10%, for example at least 20%, for example at least 30 %, for example at least 40%>, for example up to 60%>, or up to 100%), of the block copolymer molecules used to form the vesicles will have functional end groups X or Y. Similarly, it is not required that only one type of end group X or Y is present. It may for example be desired to use blends of block copolymers, one containing one reactive end group X(l), for example an end group including an -NH 2 group, and the second containing a different reactive end group X(2).
  • end groups on any particular block copolymer molecule may be the same as each other, or they may be different.
  • one end group may be a reactive end group X, while the other end group may be a non-reactive group.
  • the exact nature of the groups will of course depend on the nature of the membrane fabrication process and also on the nature of the surface of the support.
  • amine groups reactive with for example carboxylic acid, activated carboxylic acid and/or azide groups
  • carboxylic acid, activated carboxylic acid and/or azide groups reactive with for example amine groups Y
  • click chemistry for example azide or alkyne groups, which are respectively reactive with alkyne and azide groups Y
  • amine-based end groups are available, and these may contain -NH 2 and/or -NH- groups. It has been found that when providing block copolymers containing at least one PAOXA block and at least one PB block with such end groups, the ability of the block copolymer to self-assemble into vesicles is enhanced: this is surprising, as generally it is expected that the properties of amphiphilic block copolymers which most influence vesicle formation are (i) the size and nature of the blocks; and (ii) the polydispersity of the polymer. When using a multifunctional linking agent, the reactive groups present in that agent may be the same as each other, or they may be different.
  • the reagent may for example contain 3 or 4 reactive groups, but preferably it contains two reactive groups, and any reference herein to a multifunctional reagent should be understood to include a specific reference to a difunctional reagent.
  • the vesicles contain reactive groups which include an amine group; and a complementary reactive group is provided which is an activated carboxylic acid group or an azide, for example a phenylazide, group.
  • the surface of the support may be
  • Suitable groups include amine groups (reactive with for example carboxylic acid or activated carboxylic acid groups X and/or Y); carboxylic acid or activated carboxylic acid groups, (reactive with for example amine groups X and/or Y); and "click chemistry" groups (for example azide or alkyne groups reactive with alkyne or azide groups X and/or Y).
  • amine groups reactive with for example carboxylic acid or activated carboxylic acid groups X and/or Y
  • carboxylic acid or activated carboxylic acid groups reactive with for example amine groups X and/or Y
  • click chemistry for example azide or alkyne groups reactive with alkyne or azide groups X and/or Y.
  • One example of a multi-step functionalization of a surface is hydrolysis of a polyacrylonitrile surface using acid, e.g.
  • hydrochloric acid to introduce surface carboxylic acid groups, which may subsequently be activated using l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) followed by conversion into alkyne groups, for example using propargylamine, or into azide groups, for example using amino-triethyleneglycol-azide.
  • EDC l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide
  • NHS N-Hydroxysuccinimide
  • Y may be an azide group: such groups are highly reactive once activated using UV light, and are capable of reacting with C-H bonds present in many polymers present in support materials.
  • azide, especially phenylazide, groups are capable of covalently bonding with polysulfones, which as discussed below, are a preferred support material for use in the present invention.
  • activated carboxylic acid group this should be understood to include any conventional activated carboxylic acid group, for example an activated ester such as an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, or an acid halide.
  • activated carboxylic acid end groups are produced by the reaction of a carboxylic acid group with EDC and NHS. This is a well- known technique often used in the world of protein conjugation and immobilization. The reaction of a carboxyl group with EDC and NHS results in formation of an amine reactive NHS ester.
  • Suitable multifunctional linkers include homobifunctional crosslinkers, that is, crosslinkers with the same functionalities at both ends. Examples which are capable of binding to amine groups include:
  • Typical esters include: disuccinimidyl glutarate:
  • Reagents of this type react with primary amines in slightly alkaline conditions, for example at a pH of 7.2-8.5, for example 7.2-8.0, and yield stable amide bonds.
  • Reaction temperatures are typically in the range of from 0 to 30, for example from 4 to 25°C.
  • the reaction produces N-hydoxysuccinimide which can be removed via dialysis or desalting.
  • the reaction may for example be carried out in PBS buffer at pH 7.2-8.0 for 0.5 to 4 hours at room temp or 4°C.
  • Sulfo NHS esters contain an -SO3 group on the NHS ring. This has no effect on the chemistry of the reaction, but such reagents tend to have increased water solubility.
  • Imidoesters include the following (often obtained as dihydrochloride salts):
  • dimethyl adipimidate Imidoesters react with primary amines to form amidine bonds. To ensure specificity for primary amines, the reaction is typically carried out in amine-free alkaline conditions (pH 9- 11, for example pHIO) with borate buffer.
  • Triglycidylamine (v) dialdehyde compounds for example HOC.(CH 2 ) x .CHO, where x is 1 to 6.
  • Typical dialdehydes include glutaraldehyde, succindialdehyde, glyoxal, malondialdehyde, and phthalaldehyde.
  • COOH-PEG-COOH (vi) COOH-PEG-COOH.
  • This reagent is water-soluble, and if desired may be activated with EDC/NHS to provide reactivity with amines.
  • Suitable multifunctional linkers also include heterobifunctional crosslinkers, that is, crosslinkers with different functionalities at both ends. Examples include: l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (usually obtained in the form of the hydrochloride):
  • epoxides for example triglycidalamine; sulfosuccinimidyl 6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate;
  • the process for membrane preparation may utilise "click chemistry", which may for example utilise the reaction of an azide with an alkyne.
  • an alkyne group may be introduced as a group Y by reaction of a primary amine with an NHS ester.
  • Many azide- PEG-azide linkers are available commercially.
  • a multifunctional linker includes a (CH 2 ) m chain in which m is from 2 to 20, preferably from 3 to 10, especially from 3 to 9.
  • An especially preferred difunctional linker the commercially available product N-sulfosuccinimidyl-6-(4'-azido-2'- nitrophenylamino)hexanoate. This product has the formula:
  • the sulfosuccinimide group is a reactive group Y which is an activated carboxylic acid ester, capable of reacting spontaneously with amine groups.
  • the phenylazide group is a group Y which is inert under light-free conditions, but becomes highly reactive when activated using UV light, reacting readily with amine groups. In the absence of amine groups, the activated group is also capable of reacting with groups of a lower reactivity, even in some
  • step (d) of the process for membrane preparation described above i.e. causing reaction of complementary reactive groups X and Y, and reaction of either X or Y with the surface of the support, is carried out, will of course depend on the nature of the various reactive groups. In some embodiments, the reactive groups will react with each other spontaneously once contacted together under suitable conditions. In other words, the reactive groups will react with each other spontaneously once contacted together under suitable conditions. In other words,
  • photo-activatable groups may be present, in which case the reactants may be contacted together, and subsequently photoirradiated to initiate reaction.
  • both mechanisms are combined by using a multifunctional reagent having a first group Y which reacts on contact with an end group X, and a second group Y which reacts with an end group X and with the surface of the support on irradiation with UV light.
  • steps of one embodiment of the process may be carried out as follows: (a) providing an aqueous solution of vesicles according to the invention having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from a block copolymer having reactive end groups X;
  • the first set of reaction conditions may involve groups X and Y(l) which react at a first temperature while the second set of reaction conditions may involve groups X and Y(2) which react at a second, higher, temperature.
  • X and Y(l) are such that they react spontaneously on contact, or with heating if necessary, while X and Y(2) are such that they react only when activated by photoirradiation.
  • a particularly preferred process comprises:
  • transmembrane proteins incorporated therein said vesicles being formed from a block copolymer having reactive end groups X;
  • the amount of suspension deposited in step (c) is sufficient to provide the surface of the support with a continuous layer of vesicles.
  • this layer will be in the form of a coherent mass which has a thickness greater than the average diameter of the vesicles; or, in absolute terms, has a thickness of at least 0.01 microns, especially 0.04 microns.
  • reaction conditions may be used to effect the above processes.
  • the quantity of multifunctional linker used will be such that the total quantity of reactive groups Y present is in excess of the total quantity of polymer end groups X present to ensure adequate crosslinking. Control of pH, temperature and other reaction conditions is conventional and within the normal practice of the skilled man.
  • the support may be made of any suitable microporous material. It may for example be based upon a conventional membrane support, as used in reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration membranes. Such supports may for example be made from a polyolefm, cellulose, regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile, polyethersulfone, or polysulfone. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support is made from a polysulfone.
  • Chemical functionality of the support membrane may be delivered in the form of additives, which may be either low molecular weight or polymeric, to the casting dope, or
  • Porous ultrafiltration membranes may for example be prepared by air casting, where the dissolved polymer solution passes under a series of air flow ducts that control the evaporation of the solvents in a very slow manner; solvent or emersion casting, where the dissolved polymer is spread onto a moving belt and run through a bath of liquid, and the liquid in the bath exchanges with the solvent in the lacquer and causes the formation of the pores; thermal casting, where heat is used to drive the solubility of the polymer in a given solvent system. The lacquer is then cast out onto a moving belt that is being cooled. Quenching the heat in the lacquer causes precipitation to start and the pores to form.
  • Materials typically used in the process include but are not limited to cellulose regenerated, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, polyamide, polysulfone, poly(ether sulfone), polycarbonate, poly(ether imide), poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenylene oxide), polyimide, poly(vinylidene fluoride),
  • the morphology of the cast is regulated by the configuration of the final module. It may for example comprise a flat-sheet for spiral wound elements; hollow- fibre for hollow- fibre elements; or it may be tubular.
  • Preparation of a membrane having a layer comprising a coherent mass of vesicles, said layer having a defined thickness may be achieved by control of the concentration of vesicles present in the solution of vesicles applied to the support and/or by the volume of solution deposited on the support.
  • membranes of the present invention is that any possible pathway through the membrane other than through the transmembrane proteins embedded in the walls of the polymer vesicles, is minimised, while providing a large number of possible
  • transmembrane proteins per unit surface area of the support membrane, thus maximising flux through the membrane.
  • the process for preparing the membranes is technically simple, and the resulting membranes are physically robust.
  • Vesicles and membranes according to the invention may contain transmembrane proteins.
  • Aquaporins are biological cell transmembrane proteins whose function is to selectively transport water and no other molecules; the transport channel of the protein is a two-way channel through which water can flow in either direction. They are expressed by many human cell types, and also by bacterial and plant cells. Any of the different members of the aquaporin family of proteins can be used in the present invention. Suitable aquaporins include Aqp 4, Aqpl and, especially, Aqp Z. Aquaporins may exist in monomeric, dimeric, tetrameric and higher oligomeric forms, as well as mutated, conjugated and truncated versions of the primary sequence. Provided that the biological function of the aquaporin, i.e. the selective transport of water, is maintained, any of these may be used in membranes formed from block copolymers according to the present invention.
  • transmembrane protein having desirable transport properties may be used in the present invention.
  • Variants of such transmembrane proteins including naturally or non-natural occurring varients and orthologs or paralogs of such proteins may be used.
  • Such proteins include for example:
  • ETF-QO Electron Transfer Flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase
  • SPase Signal Peptidase
  • Glycero 1-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase (GlpD, native): Escherichia coli o Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenases (DHODH, class 2)
  • TagF teichoic acid polymerase Staphylococcus epidermidis o ADP-Ribosylation Factors
  • ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF1), myristoylated: Saccharomyces
  • ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF1 *GTP), myristoylated: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • PhoE Escherihia coli
  • ⁇ MspA mycobacterial porin Mycobacterium smegmatis
  • OprP phosphate-specific transporter Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • OprD basic amino acid uptake channel Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • OpdK hydrocarbon transporter Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • PorB outer membrane protein, native structure Neisseria meningitidis o Beta-Barrel Membrane Proteins: Monomeric/Dimeric
  • TolC outer membrane protein Escherichia coli
  • VceC outer membrane protein Vibrio cholera
  • OprG outer membrane protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • ⁇ OpcA adhesin protein Neisseria meningitidis
  • ⁇ NspA surface protein Neisseria meningitides
  • PagP outer membrane palimitoyl trans ferease Escherichia coli
  • FadL long-chain fatty acid transporter Escherichia coli
  • FauA alcaligin outer membrane transporter Bordetella pertusssis TodX hydrocarbon transporter: Pseudomonas putida
  • HasR heme-uptake receptor Serratia marcescens
  • TeOmp85-N POTRA domains Thermosynechococcus anaOmp85-N Anabaena sp. PCC7120
  • ⁇ Lymphocyte preforin monomer Mus musculus nsmembrane Proteins: Alpha-Helical
  • Cytolysin A (ClyA, aka HlyE): Escherichia coli
  • Type IV outer membrane secretion complex Escherichia coli
  • BR Bacteriorhodopsin
  • Rhodopsin Bovine Rod Outer Segment (Bos Taurus)
  • Rhodopsin Squid (Todarodes pacificus)
  • ⁇ ⁇ adrenergic receptor engineered: Meleagris gallopavo (turkey) ⁇ ⁇ 2 adrenergic receptor: Homo sapiens
  • Methylated ⁇ 2 adrenergic receptor Homo sapiens
  • ⁇ A2A adenosine receptor Homo sapiens
  • ⁇ Mistic membrane-integrating protein Bacillus subtilis
  • Transmembrane ⁇ - ⁇ dimer of the TCR-CD3 complex Homo sapiens
  • NaK channel Bacillus cereus • D66/S70E Mutant
  • GluA2 Glutamate receptor (AMP A- subtype): Rattus norvegicus
  • GLIC Gloebacter violaceus
  • GLIC Prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channel
  • MscL Mechanosensitive channel Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • MscS voltage-modulated mechanosensitive channel Escherichia coli CorA Mg2+ Transporter: Thermotoga maritime
  • SLAC1 anion channel TehA homolog (wild-type): Haemophilus influenzae
  • ⁇ AQP1 aquaporin water channel Human red blood cell
  • ⁇ AQP1 aquaporin water channel Bovine red blood cell
  • ⁇ AQP4 aquaporin water channel rat glial cells
  • HsAQP5 aquaporin water channel human
  • FocA formate transporter without formate Vibrio cholerae
  • FocA formate transporter Salmonela typhimurium
  • EmrE bacterial multi-drug efflux transporter Escherichia coli
  • LacY Lactose Permease Transporter (C154G mutant): Escherichia coli
  • EmrD Multidrug Transporter Escherichia coli
  • PepTSo Oligopeptide-proton symporter Shewanella oneidensis o Solute Sodium Symporter (SSS) Family
  • NCS1 Nucleobase-Cation-Symport-1
  • Mhpl Benzyl- hydantoin transporter Microbacterium liquefaciens o Betaine/Choline/Carnitine Transporter (BCCT) Family
  • BetP glycine betaine transporter Corynebacterium glutamicum ⁇ CaiT carnitine transporter: Escherichia coli
  • RibU S Component of the Riboflavin Transporter: Staphylococcus aureus o ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters
  • BtuCD Vitamin B12 Transporter Escherichia coli
  • Molybdate Transporter ModB2C2 Archaeoglobus fulgidus ⁇ ModBC Molybdate ABC Transporter: Methanosarcina acetivorans
  • HI 1470/1 Putative Metal-Chelate-type ABC Transporter Haemophilus influenza
  • MsbA Lipid "flippase” with bound AMPPNP Salmonella typhimurium
  • P-Glycoprotein Mus musculus (mouse)
  • MetNI Methionine uptake transporter complex Escherichia coli FbpC ferric iron-uptake transporter nucleotide-binding domain:
  • TrkH potassium ion transporter Vibrio parahaemolyticus
  • Plasma Membrane H+- ATPase Arabidopsis thaliana
  • DAGK Diacylglycerol kinase
  • ETF-QO Electron Transfer Flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase
  • Glycero 1-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase Escherichia coli
  • Vitamin epoxide reductase Synechococcus sp.
  • Cytochrome b6f complex Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 o Electron Transport Chain Complexes: Complex IV (Cytochrome C Oxidase)
  • Cytochrome C Oxidase, aa3 Bos taurus (bovine) heart mitochondria
  • Nitric Oxide Reductase Pseudomonas aeruginosa o Photosystems
  • Figs. 1A and IB show LSM imaging micrographs of vesicles according to the invention.
  • Figs. 2 and 3 show the results of the stopped- flow experiments of Example 2.
  • Fig. 4 shows the results of the DLS experiments of Example 2.
  • Fig. 5 shows the effect of incorporating Aquaporin Z protein into vesicles according to the invention as described in Example 3.
  • Fig. 6 is a micrograph of the membrane of Example 5.
  • Fig. 7 shows the effect of internally cross-linking the polybutadiene in the membrane of Example 5.
  • Fig. 8 shows the results of the encapsulation efficiency experiment described in Example 6.
  • Example 1 Polymer Preparation
  • Polybutadiene was synthesized following the protocol of Hillmyer, M. A.; Bates, F. S.
  • Triflate- functionalized PB served as a macro -initiator of cationic ring opening polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (SigmaAldrich 137448).
  • PMOXA 3.45 ppm (-CH2-CH2-N- , 2.1 lppm (-N-CO-CH3)
  • PBi2-PMOXA 5 -NH-(CH 2 )2-NH2 polymer 50 mg was dissolved in 1 ml chloroform in a round bottom flask (Pyrex 200ml). Solvent was evaporated on a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure producing a thin film of polymer. Subsequent 3 h high vacuum treatment removed the traces of chloroform. 5 ml of water was further added and stirred at 600 rpm. This way a lOmg/ml suspension of vesicles was prepared. Upon sampling for
  • Figs. 1 A and IB show two sample micrographs clearly showing vesicles.
  • a secondary approach to investigating vesicle structure is the use of stopped-flow
  • permeability is calculated from: where k is the initial slope of the light scattering curve corresponding to the change of vesicle diameter with time, S is the initial surface area of the vesicles, Vo is the initial volume of the vesicles, V w is the molar volume of water, and A osm is the osmolarity difference driving the shrinking of the vesicles.
  • a range of hypertonic solutions was prepared by adding given a given amount of NaCl to hydration buffer (0.1M NaMOPS) resulting in gradients of 600mM, 300 mM, 150mM 75 mM, 0 mM (hydration buffer) and - lOOmM (pure DI water).
  • 0.1M NaMOPS hydration buffer
  • Fig. 2 shrinkage due to hyportonicity was reversed to swelling with hypotonic solution, thus confirming vesicular morphology.
  • Fig. 3 shows stopped the flow graphs for vesicles extruded through filters with decreasing pore-sizes.
  • Water permeability of polymer vesicles was enhanced by reconstitution of water channel membrane protein - aquaporin Z. Film hydration procedure was modified to accommodate addition of protein at PoPr 400. Shortly: to the hydrating vesicles protein solution is added at PoPr 400. Next steps follow the protocol of standard vesicles formation.
  • PBi2-PMOXA5-NH-(CH 2 )2-NH2 polymer 50 mg was dissolved in 1 ml chloroform in a round bottom flask (Pyrex 200ml). Solvent was evaporated on a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure producing a thin film of polymer. Subsequent 3 h high vacuum treatment removed the traces of chloroform. 5 ml of 100 mM Na-MOPS buffer containing 0.1245 mg of aquaporin Z (Applied Biomimetic) and 0.5% octyl glucoside (0311 - n-Octyl- ⁇ - ⁇ - Glucopyranoside, Anagrade, Anatrace) and was further added and stirred at 600 rpm.
  • PB-PMOXA vesicles prepared as in Example 2 were subjected to known amounts of free- radical generating solutions under isotonic conditions in order to cross-link the PB cores and produce less permeable/more rigid structures.
  • PB-PMOXA was prepared as in Example 1 and made into vesicles using thin- film
  • PB-PMOXA vesicles were aliquoted (250 ⁇ ) into four 4mL clear glass vials and set aside to equilibrate at room temperature.
  • Three solutions were prepared in NanoPur water for the cross-linking procedure.
  • lOOmM Potassium Persulfate (K2SO4) was prepared by dissolving lOOmg in 3.699mL NanoPur water, lOOmM Sodium Metabisulfite (Na 2 S 2 05) by dissolving lOOmg in 5.26mL NanoPur water, and lOOmM Iron(II) Sulfate Heptahydrate (FeS0 4 ⁇ 7H 2 0) by dissolving l OOmg in 3.597mL NanoPur water.
  • K2SO4 Potassium Persulfate
  • the concentration of deposited vesicles was kept constant and monitored by matching the count rate (250kcps) in Dynamic Light Scattering (Malvern Zetasizer Nano) with static attenuator.
  • Sulfo-SANPAH (SS) solution (lOmM in lOOmM NaMOPS pH 7.5) was allowed to react with previously prepared PB-PMOXA-NH-(CH 2 )2-NH 2 vesicles in the absence of light (250 ⁇ of vesicle solution combined with 50 ⁇ SS for 15-minutes).
  • a series of 47mm polysulfone membranes (hand casted) were cut by punch press and placed into Teflon® membrane holders and rinsed with deionized water. Excess water was removed by compressed air and 300 ⁇ (each) of SS-activated vesicle suspensions were placed onto the polysulfone support membranes.
  • the membrane holders were then placed under UV light approximately 5cm from the source and covered with foil for protection for 30 minutes. Excess reactants were then removed from the membrane surface using a 1 ml pipette without touching the membrane surface. The above steps were repeated three times, following which the membranes were removed from the holders and 25mm diameter membrane samples were cut from the coated area using a punch press. These were then rinsed in excess 100 mM NaMOPS ph7.5 on a shake table for at least one hour before testing.
  • Fig. 6 is a micrograph of the resulting membrane, showing a coherent mass comprising a plurality of vesicles cross-linked on the surface of the support membrane.
  • Membranes prepared in the step described above were subject to treatment with either 10 or 150 ⁇ ⁇ of free radical initiating solution composing of:
  • the resulting membrane samples were tested for pore size distribution using a standard molecular weight cut-off analysis technique.
  • the 25mm samples prepared in the previous step were tested for their ability to retain high molecular weight materials, by measuring their molecular weight cut-off, i.e. the point at which at least 90% of molecules of a given molecular weight are retained by the membrane.
  • Phosphate buffer (0.03M Na 2 HP04 + 0.03M KH2PO4) was pre-filtered using a 0.2 um membrane and the pH was adjusted to 7.2 prior to use for preparation of solutions.
  • Dextran (DXT) standards were dissolved in phosphate buffer (DXT 165 kDa, 325 kDa, 548 kDa, 1300 kDa, and 5000 kDa, DXT 0.505 kDa, 4 kDa, 6 kDa, 11 kDa, 20 kDa, and 28 kDa). All of the dextran solutions were diluted to 0.5 mg/ml with phosphate buffer and pre-filtrated using a 0.2 um polyethersulfone membrane prior to use. All filtration experiments were conducted in a 10 ml Amicon stirred ultrafiltration cell (Model 8010, Millipore Corp.) All samples were evaluated according to the protocol described below:
  • Permeate was further evaluated using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC columns PLl 149-6840, MW 10,000 to 200,000,PL1120-6830, MW 100 to 30,000, PLl 149-6860, MW 200,000 to > 10,000,000). Comparison of the feed to the permeate chromatograms allowed for calculation of retention coefficients and membrane molecular cut-off. The results are shown in Fig. 7, which shows that molecular cut-off of the control membrane was reduced to half when coated with vesicles. Molecular weight cut-off of the vesicle-coated membrane decreased to 4000 Ka upon core-crosslinking of the polybutadiene using initiator. Reduction in molecular cut-off is shown to be dependent on the amount of the cross-linker used.
  • Example 6 Encapsulation Efficiency of Vesicles
  • Fluorescein (Sigma- Aldrich F6377) solution ImM was prepared in lOOmM sodium-MOPS (GFS 5440).
  • Polymer vesicles were prepared according to Example 2 using fluorescein Na- Mops solution as hydration media. Polymer vesicles were further extruded through polycarbonate Track ached filters (Millipore) at 200 nm. Un-encapsulated dye was removed by dialysis (Thermo Fisher Scientific 66383 10 kDa) against lOOmM sodium-MOPS (1 : 1000 volume ratio, three changes). Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) was used to quantify the number of encapsulated dye molecules per vesicle.
  • FCS Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
  • the light source utilized was a Nd:YAG pulsed laser with an emission maximum of 532 nm.
  • a 60x water immersion objective with a numerical aperture of 1.2 was used to focus the laser beam into a diffraction- limited focal point 40 ⁇ above the cover slip within the sample.
  • Laser power was set to 30 ⁇ W/m 2 by measuring light intensity at the back of the objective aperture.
  • G (T) is the normalized autocorrelation function
  • 5F(t) is the fluorescence intensity fiuctuation at time t
  • 5F(t + ⁇ ) is the fluorescence intensity fiuctuation after a time lag ⁇
  • F(t) is the average fluorescence intensity at time t.
  • r and z are radius and half height of the confocal volume, which is often assumed to have 3D Gaussian illumination profile, see Maiti et al, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 1997;94(22): 11753-7.
  • T D . is 2D lateral diffusion time of fluorescent species i across the confocal volume.
  • / £ is the fraction of fluorescent species i. We used a single species fitting for both free fluorescein dye and polymer vesicles with encapsulated dye.
  • Equation 2 The molecular brightness of the fluorescein encapsulated polymer vesicles, epoiymersome, was determined likewise. The ratio of the molecular brightness of the polymer vesicles to the molecular brightness of the free fluorescein,(8p 0 iymersome/efiuorecein), yielded an estimate of the number of fluorescein molecules per polymersome, Nencap-fioui-. ⁇
  • the results obtained are shown in Fig. 8.
  • the molecular brightness of fluorescein, Sfiuorescein was 29 photons/molecule/second.
  • the molecular brightness of the polymersomes at 0.2 ⁇ , 8poimersome was 11244 photons/molecule/second.
  • the number of encapsulated fluorescein molecules per polymersome, e po imersome / efiuorescein was 387 molecules.

Abstract

L'invention concerne des vésicules formées à partir d'un copolymère séquencé, comprenant au moins un bloc (poly)2-C1-3-alkyl-2-oxazoline et au moins un bloc polybutadiène ; et des membranes comprenant de telles vésicules. Les copolymères séquencés comprenant au moins un bloc (poly)2-C1-3-alkyl-2-oxazoline et au moins un bloc polybutadiène, à condition que le copolymère ne soit pas le copolymère à deux blocs constitué de 40 motifs de butadiène et de 190 motifs de 2-méthyl-2-oxazoline terminées par un groupe hydroxy, sont nouveaux et font également partie de l'invention.
PCT/EP2016/056504 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 Vésicules formées à partir de copolymères séquencés et nouveaux copolymères séquencés WO2016151073A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16712824.8A EP3274396B1 (fr) 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 Vésicules formées à partir de copolymères séquencés et nouveaux copolymères séquencés
US15/560,961 US10865278B2 (en) 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 Vesicles formed from block copolymers, and novel block copolymers
CN201680030369.4A CN107667133B (zh) 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 由嵌段共聚物形成的囊泡、以及嵌段共聚物
DK16712824.8T DK3274396T3 (da) 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 Vesikler, der er dannet fra blokcopolymerer, og nye blokcopolymerer
JP2017549645A JP6882183B2 (ja) 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 ブロックコポリマーから形成されたベシクル、及び新規なブロックコポリマー
CA2980641A CA2980641C (fr) 2015-03-24 2016-03-24 Vesicules formees de copolymeres sequences comprenant un bloc de (poly)2-c1-3alkyel-2oxazoline et un bloc de polybutadiene
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